Sheet-feeding mechanism



1 1927. May L. R. TUFTS SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 13. 1925 attozmua May 17 1927. 1,629,444

I R. TUFTS SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 15 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 17,1927.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LESLEY R. TUFTS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASS I GNOR TO THE CLEVELAND FOLDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SHEET-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Application filed April 18, 1925. Serial No. 22,659.

My invention relates to improvementsin sheet feeding mechanism, and more particularly to structures of this class .known as plle-feeders; the objects of said invention being to provide alternatively a slow or accelerated adjustment of the sheet-supporting table; greater ease in operating said tableand an adjustabledrag for the sheets supthe sheet feeding mechanism.

adapted alternatively to raise or lower said bll' aegi table slowly or rapidly as occasion may require. Furthermore, it is provided Withreversely cut worms for operating theelevating gears associated with said"table,whereby the shaft is placed under tension and end thrust thereon is avoided. .Moreover, a

parallel adjustment for the drag preferably employed. upon the rear of the topmost sheet insures an even adjustable pressure adapted for the particular stock handled from time to time. i

The structure and advantages of my improvements may be more readily explained in connection with the accompanying drawin s, illustrating such pile-feeder, wherein:

igure 1 isa View inside elevation of the pile-feeder, incorporating my improvements. Fig. 2, is an irregular transverse sectional view on line 2 --2, Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a detailed plan View showing the drag with its adjustments, the topmost sheet and the side frames alining the paper.

Throughout the several figures of the' drawings, I'have employed the same char-' acters of reference to indicate similar parts.

The general features of an improved pilefeeder may be gathered by inspecting Fig. 1, wherein the sheet-supportin table a is mounted intermediately of an made adjust-v the set of lateral supporting chains 0 ng over top and bottom s rockets b,

exten n lonb'. These sprockets are mounte u gitudinal shafts b" terminating in t e gears b mounted for actuation by the worm shaft (1. The worms d ,and d" thereon arereversely cut, whereby, witlithe construction shown, the shaft is placed. in tension, end

thrust thereon is avoided, and the operation of the supporting chains is rendered relatively easy.

I have shown an improved type of operating mechanism for said shaft, which is not of my invention, but is set forth and claimed.-

in the application of Olson, Ser. No. 63,883,

to which detailed reference may be made. Essentially, this comprises a ratchet. e mounted at the end of shaft d to efi'ect its intermittent rotation when engaged by the pawl e, rocked at one end of the frame e", and connected with the driven crank arm e by means of the connecting rod e. Thereby the worm shaft (2 is turned in a counterclockwise direction for the purpose of grad-v ually elevating the" sheet-supportin table a by means of its lateral chains. ince the weightis balanced between op osing chains and transmitted to the reVerSel y cut worms d, d", there is no end thrust with the accompanying friction-or cramping action at the terminal bearing. When the loaded sheet-supportin table is to beraised or lowered a ban le 7 is'placed upon the end of shaft (1 and rotated to actuate the worms and gears at a relatively slow speed, as regp-ired for handling heavy loads'of paper;

owever, if it is desired rapidly to elevate or lower the unloaded table, the handle f is placed upon the stub-shaft 7" which -is connected by multiplying gearing f" with v the shaft (i so that the latter is rapidly rotated for the corres onding actuation of the sheet supporting ta le.

Adjustably attached to one of the side frames 9 there preferably is provided a longitudinal supporting-red held in position by the thumb screw 9''. A transverse rod h with its collar. 71. and thumb screw h'.

affords longitudinal adjustment for the drag i as best shown in Fig. 1. This comprises the parallel pivotedarms z", 11, alon the former of; which an adjustable weig lit i is slidably mounted for depressing the rubber faced drag i. This serves to place the necessary deterrent action upon the rear of the topmost sheet until it is withdrawn from beneath the dra by the rotary suction, head j and thereby a Vance to the roller transfer table at the left of the mechanism.

Further details of the mechanism shown do not require specific explanation inasmuch as they do not relate to my instant improve" ments. but it will be understood from the foregoing that the sheet feeding mechanism v is materially improved in constructionand sup operation along the lines initially indicated as contemplated by my invention.

Having now described apparatus exemplifying and embodying my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. In sheet feeding mechanism of the class described, the combination with a sheetrting table, means for vertically adjustlng the same from time to time, and a rearwardly positioned drag comprising terminally pivoted links, a drag-member pivoted at the free ends of said links, and an adjustable weight associated with said drag, substantially as set forth.

2. In sheet feeding mechanism of the class described, the combination with anadjustable sheet-supporting table, of a drag appliance rearwardly associated with said table, comprising rectangularly adjusted members, parallel links pivoted thereon, a friction drag pivoted to the free ends of said links, and an adjustable weight associated with the friction drag, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si nature.

- LESLEY R. T FTS 

